Belt-shifter.



L. S. TIGH.

BELT SHIFTER. AIPLIGATION FILED NOV. 21, 1913,

1, 1 02,61 2. Patented July 7,1914.

"I; L? 1'. j IN I: K J AZ 11 2'2"" JP: 1 2* y 71 J J 52 f 5544/)MMW I u L 444 wwa m Jj J7 MKd THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

'TJTTED srATns PATENT ornion.

LIGH S, IlIGrI-I, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

BELT-SHUTTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIGH S. TIGH, a citizen of'the Republic of China, residing at -Hob0ken, in the county of Hudson and .clothing or other material to be laundered are contained in a cylinder rotatably mounted in a tank, with means for rotating such cylinder alternately in opposite directions, and the object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable mechanism for effect ing such alternate rotation.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and are rangement by which the above object is attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as it has been carried out in practice.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the im proved washing machine, with certain portions broken away, and partly in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the frame of the machine below the tank, showing the driving means in plan view. Fig. a is a transverse section and elevation of the belt-shifter mechanism alone. Fig. 5 is a corresponding plan view. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a portion of the belt-shifting mechanism, on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

A is the tank, rectangular in plan View, having a semicylindrical bottom A and supported on vertical legs or standards A preferably of angle iron. The tank is adapted to contain water and is equipped with the usual inlet and discharge pipes therefor, not shown. l/Vithin the tank A is a perforated washing cylinder B mounted horizontally in suitable bearings and having a trunnion B projecting at one end, through which the cylinder may be rotated by the engagement of a loose sprocket-wheel B with such trunnion, the engagement being efiected by a clutch l3 operated by a lever B Beneath the tank A and inclosed within the angles of the standards A is a base Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 21, 1913. Serial No. 802,207.

Patented July 7, 1914.

C on which is mounted the driving mechan1sm.

D is a transverse driving-shaft mounted in suitable bearings at one end of the base, rotated continuously in one direction by an electric motor, as indicated at M, or by any preferred power, carrying four pulleys D D and. D D arranged in pairs and fast thereon. At the opposite end of the base is a driven shaft E carrying four pulleys E E and E E corresponding to those on the drive-shaft D but with one of each pair, E and E loosely mounted. An open driving belt F communicates motion from the pair D D to E E, and a crossed belt G from D D to E E rotating the shaft E in either direction, depending upon which of the belts is engaged with the fast pulleys E or, E thereon. The shaft E carries a worm E in mesh with a wormwheel H on a horizontal shaft H. arranged at a right angle to and above the shaft E. On the outer overhung end of the shaft H is a sprocket-wheel H connecting through a a frame J t on the base C. On the bar is a head J having grooves j on its upper and lower faces which receive lips J 6 on the support J and serves with the inclosed portion of the bar to guide the latter in its endwise shifting motions. A pin J projects from the lower face of the head intothe path of an oscillating crank L adapted to strike such pin alternately on opposite sides and thus shift the belts. The shaft H is supported at one end in a casing H for the worm gearland at the other in a bearing .l-l in the frame H, and on the inner overhung end 1s a small pinion H in mesh with a gear-wheel L on a shaft L located below and parallel with the shaft H, having its bearings in the frames H and J and carry ing the crank or finger L above described.

When the wornrshaft E is driven by the open belt the shaft L is turned in one diinduces an immediate reversal in direction of rotation of the shafts E and L and of the cylinder B, which reverse rotation continues during the interval required for the slowly moving crank L to traverse lts longlower arc and rise to strike the pin J on the opposite side and again move the belts to put theopen belt into service,thus producing the desired alternate changes indirection of r0- tation of the cylinder B. The duration of rotation in either direction depends upon the relative proportions of the pinion H and gear-wheel L On the guide J is a'centrally located fixed stud J? and J is a similar stud at'the midlength of the head J and forming an up right extension of the pin J The studs serve as abutments for the end of a flat semicircular spring N exerting its force to separate the studs and serving to induce a rapid completion of the endwise movement of the shifter-bar J when the pin J 7 andstud J are forced by the crank-L past the center line of the stud J 9 in either direction and thus insure a complete and quick transference of the belts in making the reversal and permitting the crank L to begin its travel in the opposite direction.

S is a rod fastened stiflly to the shifter- "bar J and ext-ending parallel with the cross belt Gr. At its free end it carries a downwardly projecting pin S adapted to engage the belt beyond the crossing point and facilitate the movement in shifting to the idle pulley E It is supported by an arm H extended from the frame H.

On the outer end of the shaft H adjacent to and beyond the sprocket-wheel H is a small loosely mounted sprocket-wheel R,

adapted to rotate with the shaft by the engagement of a clutch R over which runs a sprocket chain R serving to rotate a sprocket-wheel R fixed on the shaft R of a wringer R and operate the latter when red quired. The clutches B and R permit the cylinder and wring-er to be operated independently, and the crank L is slidably mounted on the shaft L so that it may be drawn back out of the line of contact with the pin J 7 to permit the wringer R to be turned continuously in the proper direction, or to permit" the cylinder B to rotate in either direction continuously if desired.

A is a'removable cover for the tank,

preferablyhinged along the center line as at A to permit access to the interior without complete removal of the cover. The drlving and reversing mechanism'ls simple, strong, and reliable, and well adapted 'forservice under the conditions usually obtaining in situations in which ma.-

chinery of this class is installed and operated.

I claim: 1. In an a paratus of the character set forth, a drive shaft and a driven shaft, fast andloose pulleys on said shafts, arranged in pairs and carrying open and crossed belts,

a belt-shifterengaged with said belts, a

guide in which said belt-shifter is slidably mounted, means actuated by said dr1ven shaft for moving said belt-shifter Ialternately in opposite directions and correspondingly changing the direction ofrotation of said driven shaft, a stud. fixed on said guide, a stud on said belt-shifter, a spring, carried byfsaid studs and tending to separate the latter, said spring arranged to accelerate and complete the movement of said-beltshifter in either direction by the,

movement of such shifter-stud in the same direction past said fixed stud and connections from said driven shaft to a rotatable member.

2.'In :an apparatus of forth, a drive shaft and a driven shaft, fast the character set" I;

and loose pulleyson said shafts, arranged in pairs and carrying open and crossed belts, a belt-shifter engaged with said belts, a pin on said belt-shifter, a worm on said dIlVBIlT;

shaft, a wormwheel driven by said worm, a Wormwheel shaft, a pinion thereon, a gearwheel in mesh with said pinion, a shaftfor said gear-wheel, a crank'slidablym'ounted on such gearwheel shaft arranged to strike;

said pin and shift said belt-shifter alterna tely in opposite directions, and thereby reverse the direction of rotation of said wormwheel-shaft, connections from the latter to a rotatable member, said crank ar-' ranged to :be'mo'ved out "of the line of con-. tact with said spin and permit said driven shaft tobe rotated continuously i'n'one direction. 1

3. In an. apparatus of the character set;.::

forth, a drive shaft and a driven shaft, fast and loose pulleys on said shafts arranged in pairs and carrying open and crossed belts,

a worm upon the driven shaft a shaft at right angles to and above said driven shaft;

a worinwheel thereon engaging said worm, a shifter-bar having downwardly pro ecting pins in engagement with said belts near the driving shaft, a guide in which said shifter-bar is slidably mounted, a head ony,

said bar having grooves on its upper and lower faces, lips on said guide received in said grooves, a pin projecting from the lower face of said head, and an oscillating crank movable in the path of said last-1 named pin. H

4:. In an apparatus of the character set forth, a drive-shaftand a driven shaft, fast, and loose pulleys on said-shafts arranged in.

pairsand carrying open and crossed belts,;;

a worm upon the driven shaft, a shaft at tially the midlength of the head and forming an upright extension of said last-named 1 pin, and a flat substantially semi-circular 15 spring exerting its force to separate said studs.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aifix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LIGI-I S. TIGI-I. Witnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, HELEN V. RICE.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by, addressing the Commissioner oi Patents, Washington, D. G. 

